MK Charities introduce to us The Lewis Foundation.
So, what do you do at The Lewis Foundation?
At The Lewis Foundation we source, package and hand deliver gift packs for free to adult cancer patients in hospitals in the Midlands and the community weekly. These are items that patients might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford – and that brings people happiness and comfort at a difficult time.
Lorraine and Lee (charity founders) were so moved when Lee's mum was hospitalised with cancer at Northampton General Hospital that it led them to set up a charity. Recognising the fear, upset and loneliness faced by individuals undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones, they were determined that their charity would make a real difference. They sourced donations, packaged, and delivered gifts for patients on oncology wards. That was April 2016 – when The Lewis Foundation was born. Today with a team of 50 volunteers and community supporters, The Lewis Foundation has grown from delivering 80 gift packs to one hospital, to delivering over on average 2500 gifts per month to 14 hospitals in the Midlands per month. This includes Milton Keynes University Hospital since September 2018.
How it works in the hospital is that patients pick a gift pack of their choice from our gift list when they either arrive for treatment or they receive it during their hospital stay. Packs range from toiletries, puzzle books and miniature radios.
Here's a testimonial from one of the patients:
"I am currently in Milton Keynes University Hospital and was the recipient of one of your gift packs. Not only did it include a neck pillow, hand sanitiser, notebook, and eye mask. It also included a card. Needless to say it made me cry and cheered me up."
How can people support: 1 gift costs £3.60, a really simple way to make a difference. You can make a donation here: https://www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk/help-us-raise-money You can buy a gift that goes into our pack from our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk/amazon-wishlist
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